Pentecost 4
Readings
Psalm
Gospel
1 Kings 21.1-10, 15-21a
Psalm 5.1-7
Galatians 2.15-21
Luke 7.36-8.3
The Vicar Writes:
Saint Paul says before we had faith we had the Law (Torah). Looking at Law as including
something other than scripture we may consider it to be the laws of nature or the law of God.
Not all divine or natural laws are included in the collection of books we call the Bible. Before
one develops in faith, one is certainly under the basic law of cause and effect. When faith
becomes mature however, many sins are forgiven, many mistakes overlooked, and many
chances given. All by the grace of God.
For faith to develop in a person deeply and for it to mature, they will have to make a decision
that their life is meant for the service of God. When one seeks to serve the Lord, the Lord
guides one from within how they may do this. Gradually by the grace of God devotional
service grows from being something performed on select occasions into one’s way of life. As
the Omnipresent God who is equally present everywhere manifests the Divine presence more
and more to a person they realise that service to God may be carried out by serving anyone
and everyone.
With this vision we begin to see a person for what they are, a child of God and not for what
they have or what they do. Imagine if Jesus rejected us because we were sinners, where
would we be? We are also called to look beyond the outer and stop liking or disliking people
because of what they do. Even a bad sinner doesn’t sin all the time, even a pious person
sometimes sins. We have to follow Christ’s example by looking at the heart.
Once a saint was passing by a village, he met a young man who was known for his wild,
reckless lifestyle, a real sinner. The young sinner asked the saint, “when you see the Lord
next put in a good word for me”. A little further the saint met a pious man who was known as
the local do-gooder. The do-gooder asked the saint can you ask the Lord to punish that sinful
young wretch you just spoke to, he annoys everyone.
During his prayers and meditations the saint brought both these people before the Lord. The
Lord told the saint to test both men by saying that he saw the Lord in a vision threading a
camel through the eye of a needle. When the saint saw the pious man and told him the Lord
was threading a camel through the eye of a needle the do-gooder became angry and ridiculed
the saint. When the saint told the young sinner the young fella was very pleased an declared,
“nothing is impossible for God”. The saint immediately understood the young sinner had more
faith and wisdom than the do-gooder.
Just being a do-gooder is not the sign of faith. Do-gooders often just want to force their own
ideas and standards down other people’s throats. A person of faith comes to see the integrity
of everyone, sees the Lord in their own heart and the hearts of others and seeks to serve in
any way they can. A person of faith gradually awakens to the presence of the Lord, goes
beyond the relative laws of cause and effect and is guided by the Lord into more and more
service. This process is everlasting and joyfully performed.
Once their was a man who had dreamed he treated a boy badly in his youth and now the boy,
a man came to his house seeking revenge. The boy, now a man, came into the house and
drew a gun. The man pleaded with the fellow and asked forgiveness for his past mistakes but
the abused man could show no mercy. There is nothing you can do to save yourself now said
the man with the gun. There is one thing I can do to save myself he replied. I could wake up.
When we wake up to the presence of the Lord, God takes care of our lives and guides us into
all wisdom and salvation.
The Lord be with you
Fr Russell